In the finished version of the movie released in theaters, just
as Chris (Daniel Kaluuya's character) kills the Armitage family
and tries to ditch town, a cop car pulls up. It's a loaded moment
for the audience — is it a police officer here to arrest what
looks like a black man killing a seemingly innocent white girl?

Instead of a cop, Chris' best friend, Rod, is driving the
car. It's a triumphant ending: the two friends drive away
while the villainous Rose Armitage dies in the dirt.

The film then cuts to Chris in a prison jumpsuit, talking to Rod
from behind a glass screen. Rod tries to get him to explain
himself, but Chris is unwilling to concoct a plausible
reason for killing the Armitage family. "I'm good. I stopped it,"
is all he says.

In an interview with BuzzFeed, Peele
explained that he wanted an upbeat, triumphant ending after the
negative one wasn't received as well.

"The ending needed to transform into something that gives us a
hero, that gives us an escape, that gives us a positive feeling,"
Peele said. "There’s nothing more satisfying
than seeing the audience go crazy when Rod shows up."